Why TCU football got back to the basics during its bye week to prepare for Utah

In need of a reset, TCU football is optimistic that the program can build some momentum coming off of the bye week.

The first half of the season wasn’t pretty for the Horned Frogs (3-3 overall, 1-2 in Big 12) as many of the same issues that plagued the team in 2023 still lingered in the first six games of this season.

Ball security issues, a lack of physicality and undisciplined play have led to TCU dropping winnable games against Houston and UCF. The Horned Frogs could’ve been sitting in great position in the Big 12 title race, but are now near the bottom of the Big 12 standings.

Instead of lamenting on what could’ve been, the Horned Frogs opted to go back to the basics during the bye week.

“I think for us, it’s pretty clear what we’ve struggled in,” coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday. “We tried to focus a lot on fundamentals. Playing lower up front, obviously better ball security and tackling, just all the stuff that’s important. We had a bunch of opportunities last week to get some work in and I thought we had really good practices and improved.”

Beyond fine tuning their on field play, the messaging across the locker room was for all the players to become closer with each other.

This is a pivotal moment for many teams across the country. Some are sitting in good positions with plenty to play for while other teams have already been eliminated from meaningful contention.

“I feel like we’ve been able to build up momentum coming off the bye,” safety Bud Clark said. “Our (message) this week has been everybody staying together because this is where teams find themselves or fall apart. They start worrying about next year or just themselves, but this year we’re worried about each other.”

Clark, who played a pivotal role during TCU’s playoff run in 2022, admitted he’s been surprised with how much the program has struggled over the last 18 games, but also acknowledged it’s a problem only the players can fix.

A true sign of progress would be a win or even just a competitive display against a Utah team that is also reeling. The Utes are already 1-2 in Big 12 play and received more bad news on Monday when Cam Rising was ruled out for Saturday’s game and potentially the rest of the season.

But while the Utes will be without their starting quarterback, the Utes will still have a rowdy crowd on their side and a physical defense that will be the best TCU has seen so far this season.

“Those boys have grit, they take pride in their special teams,” Utah transfer JaTravis Broughton said of his former team. “They take pride in all three phases of the ball. We can’t go there slouched or lazy, we’ve got to be ready to play. That environment, being in that stadium in the mountains, it’s one of a kind.

“Now they’ve enclosed the dome and it just gets louder. They always bring a crowd, Utah is like Salt Lake City’s NFL team. They always come ready to show out.”

Excitement and eagerness to play have been things Dykes has been critical of his team about, especially after the 30-19 shocking loss to Houston on Oct. 4. There was a similar sentiment after the SMU game as well.

In order for the Horned Frogs to pull off the upset it’ll require they play with energy from the beginning and throw the first punch against a Utah team that is also coming off an upset defeat to Arizona State on Oct. 11.

The Utes will be playing with a sense of desperation, but they’ll also test TCU’s progress with the fundamentals. The Utes average about half of TCU’s penalty yards and have created twice as many turnovers.

Utah will be a great test to show just how much progress the Horned Frogs actually made in the open week.

Injury update

The Horned Frogs should get a number of contributors back this week according to Dykes. Linebacker Shad Banks, cornerback Jevon McIver Jr. and running back Trent Battle are all expected to be back in the lineup this week.

Battle was injured during a scrimmage during training camp and has missed most of the season. Banks suffered an injury in the season opener against Stanford and has missed each game since while McIver missed the Houston game with an undisclosed injury.

Banks and McIver should provide necessary depth on defense while Battle is a veteran running back that also provides value as a receiver. Their initial contributions may just be on special teams, but the Horned Frogs need all the bodies they can get for Utah.